22 BOTANICAL TOtlR IN THE 



are, thanks to General Wade, who made these good roads, or in- 

 structed the Highlanders in the art of road-making, an art in 

 which they have ever since excelled. After emerging from the 

 Pass, the lake, or at least the larger half of it, displays its loveli- 

 ness to the traveller, who here has a grand view of the lofty Ben 

 Ledi, from its base, washed by the lake, to its summit. On 

 this side the elevation is abrupt and steep, and it is along this, the 

 eastern side of the lake, that the road is made. On the east, the 

 view is bounded by the long grassy slopes of the chain of Benvoir- 

 lich. Trees are rather scanty, especially on the Ben Ledi side of the 

 Loch ; but notwithstanding the somewhat bare aspect of the shores, 

 the scenery here is very admirable. It combines many of the ele- 

 ments of beauty and some of sublimity. The mighty mass of 

 the chain of mountains on the west, and the extensive views on 

 the east, partake of the latter character the sublime ; while the 

 beautiful is well supported by the placidity of the unruffled sur- 

 face of the fine lake reflecting the beams of the morning sun, by 

 the quiet pastoral beauty of the Benvoirlich side, by the cottages 

 and small farms, few and far between, and by the hanging woods 

 that fringe the mountains at the upper end of the view. These, 

 combined into one whole, formed a prospect not readily effaced 

 from the recollection of those who had the pleasure of seeing it ; 

 especially when accompanied with other agreeables, such as good 

 companionship, fine weather, the pleasure of past recollections, 

 and the future anticipations. 



After passing the bend of the lake, the road enters a dense 

 forest of Pines, Oaks, Birches, Beeches, and other trees, which 

 clothe the south-western brow of the huge Benvoirlich. Here 

 the Loch contracts ; and here we had the pleasure of collecting, 

 or rather of beholding (for they are awkward species to collect, 

 and burdensome to carry), both the White and Yellow Water- 

 lilies, which ornament several parts of Loch Lubnaig. When 

 in leaf only, these two fine aquatics may be distinguished by the 

 shapes of the foliage and by the position of the posterior lobes 

 of their leaves. In the White Water-lily the leaf is rounded- 

 ovate (egg- shaped) , usually purplish below (on the under sur- 

 face), the lobes at the base are almost parallel, and the leafstalk 

 is cylindrical. The leaves of the Yellow Water-lily (the floating 

 leaves) are ovate, rather pointed at the apex, and having the 

 basal lobes slightly divergent ; the petiole is rather angular than 

 cylindrical, especially in the upper part. 



